Women
from Hawaii have been participating in the International Women's Network
Against Militarism (IWNAM) meetings for 9 years now. This network has existed since 1997, or for
16 years.

This
past November 2013,Terri Kekoʻolani, Kim Kuʻulei Birnie and Ellen-Rae
Cachola, attended the internal meeting of the International Women's Network
Against Militarism in Baguio, Philippines.
Women from Puerto Rico, U.S., Hawaiʻi, Guahan, Philippines, Okinawa, and
South Korea were in attendance. We
clarified our vision, mission, goals, developed our leadership structure and
activated working group committees.

Some
of the issues we discussed were the use of the Pagan Island for live-fire
training by the U.S. Department of Defense, and the return of the U.S. Navy to
Subic Bay Naval Base, as well as the projected development of a new naval base in Oyster
Bay, Palawan, Philippines.

Women from Hawaii reported on the presence of the
military in Hawaii as a continuation of colonization. The expansion of the
Pohakuloa Army training base, Ospreys in Mokapu, and Aegis Missile System in
Kauai are just some of the facilities that contextualize why there is
increasing Hawaiian houselessness, military housing subsidies, military vehicle
accidents, violence against women/LGBT and military recruitment in the schools.

We
also talked about how our resistance is based on values of
decolonization,
or empowering communities to reclaim their culture and their
relationship to
the land to protect one another from perpetual militarism and violence.
We have done
this through participation in the AHA Wahine conference, delegation
report backs after the 2012 network
meeting, submission of a letter of appeal to Hawaiian representatives
attending the UNESCO World Conservation in Jeju, production of a
Passionista
Fashion Show, support for legal and cultural work to reclaim Makua and
Kahoolawe, development of the Peace and Justice Crew at Farrington High
School, and presentation of our film.

Often, it is
easier to talk about security issues happening "over there," but our
goal is to continue to talk about security here at home. On
October 26, 2013 and December 29, 2013 we
screened the film, Living Along the Fenceline, on two occasions. First, to educate people on the
relationship of militarism to domestic violence. Second, to talk about militarism and colonization.

This
year, we have created ways people can practically participate
in the movement for genuine security, through supporting and
participating in our international research, education, campaigns,
finance
and communication committees. But more than just busy work, we use this
film as
an organizing tool to raise community discussion on how people see
militarism pervade their lives, and what
they are willing to do to make a change.

Let us know if you’d like to have the film screened in
your community, or to collaborate in other ways, by commenting here or on our Facebook page.

We
are embarking on a journey to make the topic of ending militarism
relevant to the various communities that we come from, so that we can
come to
meaningful conversation with each another and build relationships; so we
can
have a stronger reach beyond ourselves. Together we can be that critical
mass to let those who govern us know--we are ready for peace and
justice. We are not going to wait for someone to give it to us.

Berkeley
made history by becoming the first City in a growing international
movement of environmentalists and peace activists to stand up for
villagers on Jeju Island in their long struggle to oppose a massive
naval base being built on the beautiful island.

Gloria Steinem emailed the Berkeley City Council: "…There
are some actions for which those of us alive today will be judged in
centuries to come. The only question will be: What did we know and when
did we know it? I think one judgment-worthy action may be what you and I
do about the militarization of Jeju Island, South Korea, in service of
the arms race.”

Jeju
Island is UNESCO’s only triple honoree: a Global Geological Park, a
Biosphere Reserve, and a World Heritage Site. This environmental jewel
was designated an “Absolute Conservation Area” by the Korean Government,
was proclaimed an “Island of Peace”, and voted one of the “New Seven
Wonders of the World.”

Affected
local villagers have engaged in seven years of principled non-violent
struggle, facing endless beatings, arrests, fines, and imprisonment.
Most recently, Sister Stella Soh, the first Catholic Nun in Korean
history to be arrested for an act of conscience, was arraigned in a
Korean court.

Stephanie
Miyashira, an activist in a wheel chair, broke down in tears as she
implored the council to support the cause of peace. She agreed with
Oliver Stone, who stated : “I deplore the militarization of Jeju Island. I deplore the building of the base. This is leading up to a war, and we cannot have another war here. We have to stop this thing.”

Christine Ahn, a scholar at the Korea Policy Institute, wrote in a heartfelt and moving letter to Berkeley City Council that she had named her daughter Jejubecause of her passion for the cause of the peace activists on the island.

Berkeley’s
Resolution calls on the US Military "to cease supporting the base which
will gravely harm the fragile ecology, damage the livelihood of the
people of Jeju, and make this Island of Peace a pawn of the great powers
and a magnet for military conflict.”

This historic vote will be celebrated in a press conference at 6:30 PM on December 17 at Berkeley Old City Hall steps, 2134 MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley 94704